Australia: A Land for the Curious

Hello everyone! My name is Tyler, I am an American/German engineering student in his fourth semester in Germany. Living in Australia for the last few months has been an unbelievable experience. There is always something to do here. I've climbed waterfalls, snorkeled coral reefs, and surfed on famous beaches. If just getting from point A to point B as fast as possible isn't your style, you'll love Australia. I personally love to go out and explore every nook and cranny of Sydney by foot, taking in the essence of every neighborhood I visit. Outside of the city, the sense of exploration continues. I have not yet visited a national park here where I was not blown away by its beauty.

I have been on adventures I have only thought of doing in my dreams. Down in Melbourne you can see penguins come out of the ocean at sundown and socialize in their homes. The city of Gold Coast looks like fantasy metropolis when seen from a far away beach. Sailing the Whitsundays will show you the bluest water and whitest sand you will ever seen in your life. I definitely recommend taking a camper van up the east coast and seeing some of the best Australia has to offer: Byron Bay, The Gold Coast, Noosa Heads, Airlie Beach, and Cairns are just some examples.

The city of Sydney itself offers so much to see that it will probably keep you busy for a lifetime. You never forget about your first ferry trip past the Sydney Opera House. Taronga Zoo is so much fun on a nice day and probably has the best views of the city. Royal National Park has amazing coastal hiking, secluded beaches, and picturesque rock pools. The enormity of the Blue Mountains has will surprise you when you first see it. Most of your time will be spent in the center of the city itself, thanks to the amazing location of UTS housing, which is right next to Central Station. If you want to go somewhere where you can experience as many cultures as possible all in one place, Sydney is for you. This is even extended into UTS housing, where you will be around people from all over the world. You will have access to every different kind of cuisine imaginable and hostels are constantly filled with backpackers coming to check out Australia. It is especially great to experience Australian culture and talk to Australians. They are lively people who make amazing friends.

Whenever you're done adventuring for the day, there are many ways to relax. Catch a movie at a cinema, play some pool or table tennis with your friends, have a barbecue, or take advantage of warm weather while you have it by heading to the beach.

At first living in a big city can be a bit overwhelming, but it is best to just dive in immediately, you'll have the time of your life.